Proverbs 12:9-24

English Standard Version

⁹ Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
^10 (A)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
^11 (B)Whoever works his land ^(C)will have plenty of bread,
    ^(D)but he who follows ^(E)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
¹² Whoever is wicked covets ^(F)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³ An evil man is ensnared ^(G)by the transgression of his lips,^{[a]
    (H)}but the righteous escapes from trouble.
¹⁴ From the fruit of his mouth ^(I)a man is satisfied with good,
    ^(J)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
^15 (K)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
^16 (L)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
^17 (M)Whoever speaks^[b] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but ^(N)a false witness utters deceit.
^18 (O)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings ^(P)healing.
¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but ^(Q)a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of ^(R)those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
^21 (S)No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
^22 (T)Lying lips are ^(U)an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(V)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
^23 (W)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    ^(X)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
^24 (Y)The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be ^(Z)put to forced labor.